Lawful interception in an IP multimedia subsystem network

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing lawful interception in an IMS network. A first node in an IMS network receives a message from a Lawful Intercept mediation system node instructing the first node to perform lawful interception on a target. The first node sends a subscribe request message towards a second node located in an IMS core network. The subscribe request message includes at least an identity of a service type to be monitored. The first node subsequently receives a notify message from the second node, the notify message including session information from which intercept related information can be derived. The first node then sends intercept related information towards the Lawful Intercept mediation system node.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of providing lawful interception in an IP Multimedia Subsystem core network, the method comprising:
 at a Proxy-Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF) located in the IP Multimedia Subsystem core network:
 receiving from a Lawful Intercept mediation system node a message instructing the P-CSCF to perform lawful interception on a target; 
 sending a subscribe request message from the P-CSCF towards a node in the IP Multimedia Subsystem core network, the subscribe request message including at least an identity of a service type to be monitored; 
 receiving from the node a notify message including session information from which intercept related information can be derived; and 
 sending a message towards the Lawful Intercept mediation system node, the message including the intercept related information; 
 
 at the node in the IP Multimedia Subsystem core network:
 receiving from the P-CSCF the subscribe request message; and 
 sending to the P-CSCF, in the event that an event identified in the subscribe request message occurs, the notify message, 
 
 wherein the node and the P-CSCF are geographically located in different countries. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the subscribe request message further includes any of an identity of the target to be monitored, an expiry time, a group of service types to be monitored, a country identification and a specific session to be monitored. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the node is an Application Server. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the intercept related information is derivable from any of a service instance identifier, identifiers of parties involved in a communication session, an identity of the originating user, a time of the session start, a service type, a service action, a failure reason, geographical information relating to any of the parties involved in the communication session, bearers supported by the communication session and information relating to encryption of the session. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the subscribe request message is formatted in compliance with a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) notification framework. 
     
     
       6. A system for use in an IP Multimedia Subsystem core network, the system comprising:
 a first node; and 
 a second node communicatively coupled to the first node, 
 wherein the first node comprises:
 a first receiver for receiving from a Lawful Intercept mediation system node a message instructing the first node to perform lawful interception on a target; 
 a first transmitter for sending a subscribe request message from the first node towards the second node, the subscribe request message including at least an identity of a service type to be monitored; 
 a second receiver for receiving from the second node a notify message including session information from which intercept related information can be derived; and 
 a second transmitter for sending a message towards the Lawful Intercept mediation system node, the message including the intercept related information, 
 
 wherein the second node comprises:
 a receiver for receiving from the first node the subscribe request message; 
 a transmitter for sending to the first node, in the event that an event identified in the subscribe request message occurs, a notify message including session information from which intercept related information can be derived; and 
 
 wherein the first node and the second node are geographically located in different countries. 
 
     
     
       7. The system according to  claim 6 , wherein the intercept related information is derivable from any of a service instance identifier, identifiers of parties involved in a communication session, an identity of the originating user, a time of the session start, a service type, a service action, a failure reason, geographical information relating to any of the parties involved in the communication session, bearers supported by the communication session and information relating to encryption of the session. 
     
     
       8. The system according to  claim 6 , wherein the node is an Application Server.